ANYONE fed up with the prospect of non-stop televised rugby and football this Easter weekend might try a sporting tournament with a difference - the world marble championships.

The tournament, which got under-way in Sussex yesterday, will see more than 150 players knuckling down and nose dropping - a few might even cabbage (cheat) if noone's looking.

The tournament was dominated for years by Welshman `wee' Willie Wright, who won the individual title five times.

Willie was 5ft 2in and renowned for his secret weapon - a hot water bottle sewn inside his coat, to keep his thumb warm and the circulation going.

The game is being played at its spiritual home, The Greyhound Inn, Tinsley Green, West Sussex.

The village, near Crawley, was reputed to be the scene of an epic marbles battle between two men in Elizabethan times for the hand of a local maiden.

Organisers the British Marbles Board of Control have this year created a special "Golden Oldie" category in honour of the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Players have to be aged 50 or over to battle it out for a trophy donated by Bedford brewers Charles Wells, and a coveted golden marble.

Julia McCarthy-Fox, whose husband, Sam, will oversee the tournament, said marbles were still popular.

"Marbles is cheap to play," she said. "If you look at the price of kids' toys and games today, they all need batteries, recharging or plugging in.

"Marbles are just simple games that are easy to play. Give kids a box full of marbles and they will play for hours."

The tournament was more about upholding tradition than competition, she added.

The team game uses traditional Ring Taw rules, where six players on each side take it in turns to knock each other's marbles out of a six-foot circle. The winners are the first team to knock half of their opponents' marbles out of the ring.